Who Colonel Brandon is
Colonel Brandon is a friend of Sir John Middleton whom the Dashwood sisters meet at Barton. He is about thirty five, reserved and serious, often listening quietly while the people around him chatter. He carries a sorrow that he rarely speaks about, leaving much of his inner life unspoken.
Colonel Brandon and the others in the story
Marianne dismisses Colonel Brandon as too old, but he takes a clear interest in her music. Elinor notices that he looks at Marianne with more feeling than he shows to anyone else. His quiet attention offers a contrast to the tastes and open enthusiasm Marianne shares with John Willoughby.
When Willoughby is near, Colonel Brandon becomes quieter and sadder, and Marianne reads his silence as jealousy or dullness. There are hints that he knows something troubling about Willoughby, though he says little. In London, he offers quiet help and kind attention while Marianne anxiously hopes to see Willoughby.
Questions
Who is Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility?
Colonel Brandon is a kind, serious neighbour at Barton and a friend of Sir John Middleton.
Does Colonel Brandon love Marianne?
He quietly admires Marianne and shows a particular interest in her music. Elinor recognises feeling in his attention that Marianne does not appreciate.
How old is Colonel Brandon?
He is about thirty five when the sisters meet him at Barton. Marianne considers him far too old for her.